Hydrated horses are happy horses!
Looks like we are continuing to have scorching hot days here in the UK, tons of sunshine and warm temperatures are a welcome change to the wet weather we had all winter ☀️
However our own bodies and our horse’s bodies are not conditioned to this relentless heat and this should be a consideration for all horse owners and riders 🥵
We all want to enjoy our horses on these beautiful days, but we should be mindful of the effects this hot weather has on our horse’s bodies and how can we help them to stay comfortable and healthy❓
As an Equine Massage Therapist I focus on the whole body of the horse including all of the working systems 🐎
One of the purposes of massage is to bring fresh oxygenated blood to your horse’s organs, muscles and other internal systems and assist in the removal of toxins to help create and maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system 😊
All of these external and internal systems are made up to some extent from water and require hydration in order to function 💦
Therefore the main issue I would like to look at today is dehydration 💧
Did you know your horse is able to sweat faster than any other animal.
Your horse’s skin can produce sweat around 3 times as fast as the human skin can 😱
This is a great adaptation that allows your horse to keep their bodies cool 🧊
However this also leaves them open to dehydration as they perspire 👎🏻
And dehydration doesn’t only mean you’re horse’s body is losing water, they will also be losing electrolytes, such as salt and potassium, which are required to help their body function.
Dehydration can lead to serious conditions such as:
▪️Colic
▪️Respiratory problems
▪️Myopathy (muscle damage)
▪️Laminitis
▪️Kidney failure
▪️Liver failure
How can you tell if your horse is dehydrated❓
When your horse is dehydrated their skin will lose its elasticity.
An easy way to identify this is to pinch up a skin fold along the horse's back.
If you horse is not dehydrated the skin will spring back quickly, however if they are dehydrated the skin will stay pinched even after you let go, or very slowly move back into place.
Other signs may include but are not limited to:
▪️Lethargy
▪️Slow recovery after exercise
▪️Muscle spasms
▪️Flaring of the nostrils
▪️Fast, shallow breathing
▪️Staring / dull eyes
▪️Thick / sticky saliva
▪️Dark urine
▪️Increased heart rate
If you think your horse is suffering from any of these conditions please call your vet 🏥
Once your horse has been given the all clear and with vet consent Equine Massage is a great way to encourage the body's systems to get back into action and to recover and heal ✔️
How can you help prevent dehydration in your horse?
▪️Stable your horse during the hottest part of the day (if your stables are cool) or at least ensure shade is provided in the field
▪️Exercise your horse first thing in the morning or later in the evening when it is cooler (unless you need to condition them to the heat e.g due to competing at the weekend, in which case slowly build up the amount of work they are doing in the heat)
▪️Always make sure your horse has access to clean water
▪️Add salt and/or electrolytes to your horse’s daily feed ration
▪️Offer your horse water immediately after exercising as this is when they will be at their most thirsty
▪️Wash your horse off well after exercise, the process of evaporation will help their bodies to cool
I hope you enjoyed this blog, look out for more coming soon.